Finally, we’ve established our final four for the 2022 NFL season, and now it’s time to decide which teams will play in Super Bowl LVII. The San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Cincinnati Bengals and Kansas City Chiefs enter Week 21 of the season, and all four teams are dealing with injuries.
Below, we’ll detail the injury updates for the conference championship on Sunday. Who’s in? Who went out ? Who is going in the right direction? This is your one-stop-shop for all things NFL injury.
All NFL odds via Caesars Sportsbook.
San Francisco 49ers vs. Philadelphia Eagles (-2.5)
- Eagles : QB Ian Book, CB Josiah Scott, RB Trey Sermon, S Anthony Harris, LB Kyron Johnson, G Josh Sills INACTIVE
- 49ers: QB Jimmy Garoppolo (foot), RB Elijah Mitchell (groin), CB Ambry Thomas, OL Nick Zakelj, TE Ross Dwelley, RB Tyrion Davis-Price, DL Drake Jackson OFF
The Eagles had a short injury report this week. Right tackle Lane Johnson (groin) and cornerback Avonte Maddox (toe) were limited Wednesday and Thursday, but practiced hard Friday. Neither player has an injury designation. Linebacker TJ Edwards was added to Friday’s injury report with an ankle injury that has limited him in practice, but he also has no injury designation.
The 49ers had a more comprehensive injury report this week, as running back Christian McCaffrey (calf), running back Elijah Mitchell (groin) and quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (foot) all missed the first two team training. McCaffrey is expected to play after training hard on Friday and not having an injury designation, but Garoppolo remains out and Mitchell will also miss the game. Neither player trained on Friday either. The only other 49er with an injury designation is cornerback Ambry Thomas, who has been restricted all week with an ankle issue.
Cincinnati Bengals at Kansas City Chiefs (-1.5)
- Chiefs: TE Travis Kelce (back), WR Justin Watson (illness), WR Mecole Hardman (pelvis) DOUBTFUL
- Bengals: G Alex Cappa (ankle), T Jonah Williams (knee)
Everyone had their eyes on Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes this week as he suffered a sprained ankle in Saturday’s win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Despite the injury, head coach Andy Reid told reporters on Friday that Mahomes would start on Sunday and noted that “he’s moving well.” Mahomes was a full participant in practice all week, as were running back Jerick McKinnon (ankle) and linebacker Willie Gay Jr. (toe). With Mahomes gone, the Chiefs’ biggest injury problem involves Travis Kelce. The first-team All-Pro was added to injury report Friday with a back injury. Despite training fully, Kelce is listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game. Wide receivers Mecole Hardman (pelvis) and Justin Watson (illness) are also questionable.
Meanwhile, the Bengals added Hayden Hurst to the team’s injury report ahead of Sunday’s AFC title game rematch with the Chiefs. Hurst, who was not on injury report Wednesday, was limited in practice Thursday with a calf injury. On Friday, Hurst said he will be on the court when the Bengals face Kansas City on Sunday. Not all of the injury news was good for Cincinnati, as starting offensive linemen Alex Cappa (ankle) and Jonah Williams (knee) were both ruled out for the second straight game. Cappa has been out since suffering an ankle injury against the Ravens in Week 18, while Williams missed last week’s game after dislocating a kneecap in the Bengals’ playoff win against Baltimore. Jackson Carman and Max Scharping are expected to replace the two players in the starting lineup again.